Bangkok, Thailand–The Asia eHealth Information Network (AeHIN) joined the panel on the Future of the Silver Economy in Thailand at the InsurTech Summit 2025: Co-Creating the Future of Insurance, Powering the Community, held on October 29, 2025. The session brought together leaders from government, hospitals, and the wellness sector to discuss how digital health, financing, and innovation can help societies adapt to the country’s rapid demographic transition toward an aging population.
Dr. Boonchai Kijsanayotin, AeHIN Chair and Thai Health Information Standards Development Center (THIS) Digital Health and Health Information Standards Expert, shared insights on how technology and interoperability can address one of Thailand’s most pressing challenges: managing the impact of an aging population through better data connection and financial integration. He emphasized that the “silver economy” is not a future issue but a current reality, with 20% of Thais already over the age of 60. Rather than seeing this as a burden, he encouraged stakeholders to view it as an opportunity to design smarter, data-driven systems that empower older adults to live longer, healthier, and more independent lives.
Dr. Kijsanayotin noted that Thailand already provides near-universal health coverage, with 99% of its 70 million citizens covered under public health schemes. However, these systems remain fragmented across multiple funds, such as Universal Coverage, Social Security, Civil Servant Medical Benefits, and the third-party accident tax fund. Oversight agencies like the Controller General’s Department manage an estimated 400 billion baht in health expenditure, yet disconnected processes and siloed data still limit the effective use of these funds.
To address these gaps, Dr. Kijsanayotini called for greater collaboration between the insurance and technology sectors to create digital procedures that can connect and help harmonize these funding streams. “The money is already in the system. We just need better logistics to deliver it,” he said.
Dr. Boonchai Kijsanayotin shares insights during the InsurTech Summit 2025, Bangkok, Thailand | Image credit: Center of InsurTech Thailand
The perspectives shared during the panel are aligned with AeHIN’s mission to promote interoperability, good governance, and common data standards across Asia. By fostering collaboration among governments, insurers, and innovators, AeHIN continues to support the development of digital health ecosystems that turn demographic challenges into opportunities for better care. As countries across the region prepare for aging populations, AeHIN’s regional network remains committed to helping ensure that longer life also means a better quality of life.